Christel Anna Legner's Obituary
Christel Anna Legner of Methuen died on Friday, October 13 at Nevins Nursing Center. She had recently celebrated her 101st birthday with her family in August. Born in the District of Schloßberg Ostpr (East Prussia), she married her husband Hans Legner on September 18, 1943 and they lived on her parents’ farm until evacuating during the East Prussian offensive in 1945. Christel immigrated with her husband, her son Hartmut, and her mother Frieda to the United States, becoming citizens and settling in Queens Village, NY in 1952. Christel worked at a watch factory in NY city before retiring to Whiting, NJ in 1978. Christel moved to North Andover, MA in 2002 and was a congregant of Faith Lutheran Church in Andover.
Christel was devoted to her family and was exceptional at gardening, baking, sewing and crocheting. She enjoyed hosting friends for homemade German dinners and dessert, cards, and ending with some polka and the Chicken Dance.
Christel is survived by her daughter-in-law, Lucille M. Legner of Stoneham, her grandson, Matthew H. Legner and his wife Sandra of Chester, NH, granddaughter Christianna J. McCann and her husband Ryan of Acton, MA, step grandson Richard M. Bentley and his wife Tammy of Salem, NH, and step granddaughter Andrea Bentley-Melle and her husband Justin of Amherst, NH as well as her great grandchildren Autumn, Hazel, Gavin, Rowen and Lauren. She was preceded in death by her son Hartmut, her husband Hans, and her parents Georg and Frieda (Hakelberg) Sedat. Christel’s family is grateful to the staff at Nevins Nursing Home who delivered exemplary compassionate care each day for the past three years in which she was a resident.
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